Retaliation against family members • A man was sentenced in 2006 to three years in prison for hooliganism, allegedly for the human rights work of his father. The man was beaten up while in detention allegedly to force him to confess to another disciplinary offence. He subsequently allegedly stabbed himself in protest and was refused appropriate medical treatment. His parents were also not allowed to visit him.56 • The brother and daughter of an imprisoned woman and human rights defender were harassed and intimidated by the authorities. The defender’s brother, who had already been evicted from his apartment, was warned that, if he continued to object to his sister’s detention, it would be difficult for him to continue to work and he would be forced to leave the city where he lived. The defender’s daughter was also threatened that, if she attempted to see her mother, she would be killed. She had also been followed by individuals she believed were law-enforcement agents.57 1.3. Right to liberty and freedom of movement of human rights defenders Challenges and obstacles to the exercise of the right to liberty observed during the reporting period included prison sentences that might have been motivated by defenders’ human rights work, arbitrary detentions, arrests and fines, and restrictions on travel. The following examples describe some of the circumstances and challenges affecting defenders. Prison sentences, including suspended sentences, that might have been motivated by defenders’ human rights work • A well-known local defender who had spent a number of years uncovering human rights abuses was charged with harming the honour and business reputation of a local politician after he took pictures and attempted to film open discussions of a proposed constitution at the local assembly.58 • Three members of a human rights group were sentenced to 32 months in prison for “inciting hatred and hostility” and “praising crime and criminals”. After lodging an appeal, they were reportedly released until the next hearing. The charges resulted from the men’s criticism of certain military operations in prisons and prison conditions.59 • A prominent writer and pro-democracy activist was charged with assault and “insulting and resisting representatives of the government” and sentenced to five 56 Case of Ikhtior Khamroev (Uzbekistan), Urgent Appeal, Observatory FIDH/OMCT, 11 December 2007; “Uzbekistan: Human rights defender Ihtiyor Hamroev badly beaten in custody”, Front Line, 6 December 2007; Amnesty International Report 2008: State of the World’s Human Rights (London: Amnesty International, 2008), p. 324, <http://thereport.amnesty.org/eng/regions/europe-and-centralasia/france>; Human Rights Council, op. cit., note 34, para. 1922, for the government’s response, see para. X. 57 Case of Rasul Tadjibaev and Mahliyo Akramova (Uzbekistan), Amnesty International, op. cit., note 56, p. 324, <http://thereport.amnesty.org/eng/regions/europe-and-central-asia/france>; Human Rights Council, op. cit., note 34, para. 1942, for the government’s response, see para. 1943. 58 Case of Maxim Kuleshov (Kyrgyzstan), “Confirmation of the sentence against Mr. Maxim Kuleshov”, Observatory FIDH/OMCT, 18 October 2007. 59 Case of Ethem Acikalin, Mustafa Bagcicek, and Hüseyin Beyaz (Turkey), “Turkey must end the impunity of political violence”, Observatory FIDH/OMCT, 13 February 2008; “Arbitrary detention of Mr. Ethem Açikalin”, Observatory FIDH/OMCT, 28 January 2008; Human Rights Council, op. cit., note 34, para. 1894, for the government’s response, see para. 1897. The government of Turkey noted that the three men were sentenced to 30 months in prison, that the verdict has been appealed and that the decision of the Supreme Court is expected. 16